Two cases of follicular lymphoma with MYC gene abnormalities that presented with bone marrow necrosis

Abstract

Bone marrow necrosis (BMN) occurs most frequently in hematological malignancies and sometimes in non-hematological disorders. Lymphoid diseases causing necrosis are regarded as high-grade disease. B-lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma is the most common malignant cause of BMN. Here, we present two patients with follicular lymphoma (FL) and MYC gene abnormalities who developed BMN. In one case of BMN, the necrosis disappeared in response to chemotherapy, and the patient survived with complete remission. In the other case, BMN remained even after chemotherapy, and effective chemotherapy could not be administered due to suppressed hematopoiesis, which led to the lymphoma worsening and the patient’s death. Indolent lymphomas, such as FL, as in these cases, have the potential to develop BMN. It is important to detect the development of BMN and administer chemotherapy early to improve patient prognosis, since severe BMN prevents patients from receiving effective treatment.